God’s Golden chain of salvation

#3 Undeniable aspects of the chain (v.29-30)
1. Unbroken chain
2. Monergestic work of God
3. Not universal
# Does the bible teach predestination and election?
• Acts 13:48 – When Paul and Barnabas began to preach to the gentiles in Antioch
• Romans 8: 28-30
• Romans 9: 11-13
• Romans 11: 7 Paul regarding the fact that some of Israel are saved and some not.
• Ephesians 1: 4-6
• Ephesians 1: 12
• 1 Thessalonians 1: 4-5
• 2 Thessalonians 2: 13
• 1 Peter 2: 9
• Revelations 13: 7-8


# God’s purpose in predestination (Rom 8: 29)
Twofold:
i) For us – Conformed into the image of Christ, sanctification
ii) For Christ – first born among many brothers, so that He will have many brothers who recognises (finds joy) his pre-eminence/ supremacy authority
# How does the New Testament present this doctrine?
1. As a comfort
2. As a reason to praise God
3. As encouragement to evangelism and confidence in the gospel
# What is the basis for predestination/ election?
 God’s foreknowledge (v.29)
 But what does that mean?
It does not mean foresight of faith, god looks into the future, sees who will believe in Christ and who will not. And based on this foreknowledge of faith God predestines them to be saved.
# Why is that understanding wrong?
I. If it is only foresight, what God would see and would be none repenting and receiving Christ.
a. Radical corruption of man
b. Bondage of the will
c. Romans 3: 11
II. Romans 8: 29 does not say ‘What’ God foresaw, rather it is about ‘whom’ He foreknew
a. Persons, and not facts
III. Scripture never speaks of Faith as a reason for God choosing us. Rather,
a. Romans 9: 11-13 – Nothing within Esau and Jacob, in order that God’s purpose in election might stand.
b. Romans 11: 5-6 – chosen by grace
c. Ephesians 1: 5-6 - in love, according to the purpose of his will.
d. 2 Timothy 1:9 – “virtue of His own purpose”
True Biblical meaning:
• To choose to love beforehand.
• Tracing the usage in the bible:
o Genesis 4:1
 The most intimate human expression of love relationship
 In the originals it reads “ the man knew his wife” ; Hebrews “Yada”
o Exodus 33: 17
 God has all the information about every person
 But He chose to know “Moses”
o 1 Samuel 2: 12
 ‘Sons of Eli… did not know the Lord’
o Psalms 1: 6
 God knows the way of righteousness
 Intimately involved
 Not with the wicked
o Jeremiah 1: 5
 “Before I formed you; I knew you” , Personal covenantal relationship
o Hosea 13: 5
 “ I knew you in the wilderness” , cared for loving care
o Amos 3: 2
 “ you only have I chosen” , Heb: I have known
o Mathew 1: 25
 “He did not know Mary”
o Mathew 7: 23
 “I never knew you”
o John 10: 14
 “I know my own..”
o Acts 2: 23
 “ plan and foreknowledge of God”
 Inseparably connected
o Galatians 4: 9
 Echo of John 10: 14
o 1 Corinthians 8: 3
 We loving God is preceded by God knowing us.
o 1 Peter 1: 1, 2
 Election.. according to the foreknowledge of God.
1 Peter 1: 20 Jesus Christ [death| blood| Lamb without blemish]
 If we follow the wrong understanding we should apply that here too
 God looked into the future to see if Jesus would be obedient.
# Objections to the doctrine
1. Doctrine of election makes us puppets/ robots and not real persons with actual choices.
 God not only predestines the end; but the means too.
 Radical corruption  unable and will not receive Christ
 Holy Spirit regenerates the elect  We see the beauty of Christ and we embrace Him by faith (real faith)
 God causes us to choose Christ voluntarily.
 Holy Spirit begins the sanctifying work
 We fight hard in mortifying our sins with the power of Holy spirit
 We go through sufferings and groaning knowing that glory is coming soon.
 NONE OF THIS IS MECHANISTIC/ ROBOTIC.
2. Doctrine of election makes God unfair
 Perfectly fair and just for God to save no one
i. He did not chose to save fallen angels (2 Peter 2: 4)
 But if God chose to save at all, it is a demonstration of His grace
 Objection: Then it was not fair for God to create those he knew would reject him.
 Paul’s response (Romans 9: 18- 19, 20-24):
o Not one that appeals to our pride
o Nor does he attempt to give a philosophical explanation
o Paul says, there is a point which we cannot answer back to God
o He is the omnipotent creator and we are creatures
# Conclusion:
1) We will not understand why God elects some and why not some.
a. We don’t understand a lot of things, the tension remains
 Who wrote Romans? Paul or Holy spirit
 Christ  God or Man
 Who runs our Christian life? We ourselves or God
2) Be willing to accept all that is written in the scriptures; and leave the rest
3) Application:
a. Proper understanding brings humility
b. Brings thankfulness and worship

Personal Questions
I. Why do you think you are saved?
a. God foreseeing your faith? (self-generated faith)
b. Unconditional election?
II. Does the unconditional election give you comfort and assurance?